ANWEBI AKI - A Place to Rest & Reflect

Teaching: Seven Grandfather Teachings (Niizhwaaswi Gagiikwewin)

Primary Consulting - Anishinaabe Artist: Donald Chrétien

Lead Sculptor & Visual Arts Educator: Shane Clodd

First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Consultant at York Region District School Board: Andrew McConnell

Elder: Mike Ormsby

Knowledge Keeper: Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone 

Consulting - Anishinaabe Artist: Tessa Shank

Anishinaabemowin Translator: Isadore Toulouse

Coordination:  City of Markham

Sculptors: Sydney Lad, Robyn Mutiger

Student Sculptors: Erin Chan, Shayla Fullerton, Lina Lam, Iris Li, Ryan Ma, Roslyn Nip, Victoria Nip, Simran Panchal, Abbie Siu

Project Supporter: City of Markham

Project Operations Studio: Generously donated by the Markham Museum & Thornhill Towing Co.

Seven Anwebi Aki

Project Description & Teachings

High school students from the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) recently partnered with Anishinaabe artist Donald Chrétien to design seven wood sculptures. Shane Clodd, Visual Arts Department Head at Unionville High School, taught the students the carving process and the project was supported by YRDSB's First Nation, Métis, and Inuit team, as well as Indigenous Elder Mike Ormsby and Knowledge Keeper Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone.

The students' learning of Indigenous Ways of Knowing, specifically the Anishinaabe's Seven Grandfather Teachers (Niizhwaaswi Gagiikwewin), was synthesized into the design of the sculptures, which were named Anwebi Aki (A Place to Rest and Reflect) by Donald Chrétien. These sculptures invite the public to engage with the students' learning by resting within the artworks and reflecting upon each of the seven teachings: love, bravery, wisdom, respect, truth, honesty, and humility as it relates to the individual and their community.

The wisdom of the Seven Grandfather Teachings are guiding principles central to obtaining balance in one's spirit and community, and serve as a common ground from which all cultures can begin their learning in service of building a stronger community.

Each sculpture has two primary components: a bowl carved to receive tobacco, a sacred medicine that symbolizes a mutual exchange of energy, and three carved animals representing one of the Seven Grandfather teachings. Participants become the fourth element when engaging with the sculptures physically, intellectually, and emotionally as they rest within and reflecting upon their meaning.

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Anishinaabemowin Translatation by: Isadore Toulouse

Maajiishkaachigan gaa-zhi-maadseg

Odenaang Markham gii-maajiishkaatoonaawaa maanda mookidaasowin nokiiwaanhs nenaasaab nokiitaagewin gewii York Region District School Board (YRDSB). Maanda odenoonh gii-zhaabwiitoonan gchi-mitigoon gaa-giishkiboojigaazojig odi Markham odenaang. YRDSB gii-bi-bimaadiziimgatoon maanda nakazod zhisewin edming miiniwaa naadiziwin ji-maajiishkaag, gaawii go etago odenaang Markham, booj dash go kina Canada mooshkin.

E-kinoomaagozijig zhiwe York Region District School Board (YRDSB) gii-maamowi-nokiiwag miiniwaa gii-kinoodiwag maamowi gewii dash maaba Anishinaabe meznibiiget Donald Chrétien ge-zhinaagok nindan niizhwaaswi mitigoo-mzin’iinyag. Shane Clodd, Mzinbiigewin eniigaansiikdang odi Unionville kinoomaagegamigoong, gii-kinoomoowan ninda ekinoomaagozinjig waa-ezhi-mookidaasong. Maanda dash maajiishkaachigan aasgwitaachigaade zhiwe YRDSB’s Ntam Anishinaabeg, Aabitoziiyag miiniwaa Inuitag emaamowizijig miiniwaa Anishinaabe Getizid Mike Ormsby miiniwaa Kendaasowin Debendang Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone.

Gonda ekinoomaagozijig kinoomoowindowaa maanda Anishinaabe naadiziwin nji-sa kendaasowin, ezhi-nowendaasiimgok nindan Anishinaabe Niizhwaaswi Gigiikwewinan, gii-bezhigoochigaadenoon ji-naaschigaadeg, edming miiniwaa ezhinaagok nji-sa niizhwaaswi mitigoo-mzin’iinag eshnikaazowaad Anwebi Aki (A place to rest and reflect), maanda nooziwin gaa-zhitood Donald Chrétien. Maanda Anwebi Akis giikimaan kina bemaadizinjin ji-bi-wiijiiwewaad zhinda maanda ji-kenjigaadeg nowebiwin zhiwe mzin’iinying njisa ninda niizhwaaswi gigiikwewinan; Zaagidowin, Aakide’ewin, Nbwaakaawin, Mnaadendimoowin, Debwewin, Gwekaadiziwin miiniwaa Dibaadendizowin.

Nindan ezhi-nbwaakaawong Niizhwaaswi Gigiikwewinan waawonoong naakinigewinan ge-zhi-dibaabiishkoodoong bezhig mindooman miiniwaa ezhi-ngodoodenaawizing. Mompii dash enji-maajtaang kina go enaadizijig maanda aki eshnikaadimoowaad endaawaad mkaanaawaa nenaasaab mkowin genij-maajtaang kendaasowin ge-zhi-mshkooziimgak ngodwewaangizowin.

Gonda dash mzin’iinyag tenoon niizh memoonji-piitendaagok.

Enso-bebezhig mzin’iin temgwad booski-naagan ji-sind asemaa, getchi-piitendaagok mshkiki ezhinoomaagemgok gegoo nenaasab aansewin ebmiseg.

Gindaaswin niiwin gchi-piitendaagozi Anishinaabe-aadizinin ezhi-kendaasong. Enso-bebezhig Anwebi Aki yaawag nswi emookijigaazojig wesiinyag zhinoomaading bezhig maaba Niizhwaaswi Gmishoomsinaa Gigiikwewinan. E-wiijiiwejig aawiwag eko-niiwin zhichiganag pii waabmindowaa gonda mzin’iinyag enaabing, ezhi-mkowenjigaazowaad miiniwaa ezhi-mooshchigaazowaad pii nowebing miiniwaa ndikenjigaadeg ninda ediming.

Minaadendamowin/Respect - Mashkode-bizhiki/Bison

Ji-mkagaadeg dibaashkoojigewin ezhi-mnaadendimin kina waya miiniwaa ezhi-mnaadendizing. Ji-mnaadenjigaadeg kina gegoo debenjiged gaazhitood miiniwaa gaawii ji-baapinaachigend. Ji-mina-dodiwind miiniwaa ji-mina-dodadowaa bemaadizijig dibishkoo giin ge-zhi-doodaagoowin mzowe ngodwewaangizowining, ngo-doodenaawziwining miiniwaa ezhi-wiijkiwending.

Nibwaakaawin/Wisdom - Amik/Beaver

Ji-mina-daabinaagedeg kendimowin miiniwaa bekish ji-mina-daapinaman kendaasowin. Ji-nsadowaabnjigaadeg gegoo ezhi-bepkaanzid waya ji-teg mnaadendimoowin miiniwaa ji-mina-daapinagaadeg.

Dabaadendiziwin/Humility - Ma'iingan/Wolf

Ji-kenjigaadeg yaang mompii akiing miiniwaa ngodwewaanjiziwining, ji-teg mkowaamziwim nji-sa ezhchigeng, miiniwaa ji-teg dibaashkoojigewin njisa maanda debenjiged gaa-zhitood.

Gwayakwaadiziwin/Honesty - Gaagaagi/Raven

 Ji-mkowenjigaadeg ji-maasaajigaadeg debwewin nji-sa maanda miikaans bimaadiziwin nji. Ji-teg gwayakwaadiziwin miiniwaa gwek-zhichigewin miiniwaa ji-nsadowaabidiziyin miinwaa ji-mina-daapinidiziyin.

Aakode’ewin/Bravery - Makwa/Bear. 

Ji-mina-nkweshkagaadeg zegiziwin miiniwaa aagonechiganan ezhi-mshkooziing. Ji-naaniibwichigaadeg ezhi-debwe’enjigaadeg gegoo miiniwaa ji-zhitoong gwek naakonigewinan nji-sa ezhi-ngodwewaagizing, ezhi-ngodoodenaawizing miiniwaa ezhi-wiijkiwending.

Zaagi’idiwin/Love - Migizi/Eagle

Ezhi-kejigaadeg zaagi’idiwin temgwad nastamookiiwin nji-sa kina gigiikwewinan. Weweni jinaabing biinjeying; ji-kenjigaadeg miiniwaa ji-zaagidizong mii-maanda ezhi-mkagaadeg dibaabiishkoojigewin bimaadiziwining.

Debwewin/Truth - Mikinaak/Turtle

Ji-mkowenjigaadeg maanda ezhi-gchi-piitendaagok bimosewin bekish ezhi-gchi-piitendaagok nikeyaa ezhaang. Debwewin aawan nsastamookiiwin nji-sa ninda kina gigiikwewinan mooshkin miiniwaa debwetaadizong miiniwaa debwetaman kina-gegoo.

Aakode’ewin/Bravery - Makwa/Bear

To face fears and challenges with courage. To stand up for what one believes in and make the best choices for one’s community, family and friends.

Minaadendamowin/Respect - Mashkode-bizhiki/Bison

To find balance in respecting others and oneself. To honour all creation and to not be wasteful. Be mindful and treat others as you would like to be treated within a community, family and friends.

Gwayakwaadiziwin/Honesty - Gaagaagi/Raven

To remember to walk truly on one’s own path in life. To have honesty and integrity and to recognize and accept oneself.

Dabaadendiziwin/Humility - Ma'iingan/Wolf

To know one’s place in the world and in the community, being selfless in one’s actions, and having a balance as a part of creation.

Debwewin/Truth - Mikinaak/Turtle

To remember that the importance of the journey is as important as the destination. Truth is understanding all of the teachings as a whole and being true to oneself and all other beings

Zaagi’idiwin/Love - Migizi/Eagle

To know love is to have an understanding of all of the teachings. To have clear insight to your inner-self; to know and love yourself is to find balance in life.

Nibwaakaawin/Wisdom - Amik/Beaver

To cherish knowledge and to keep oneself open to learning. To recognize differences in others with respect and tolerance.